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High Precision Data and Real-Time Energy Tracking
Under an hour precision and IoT-enabled analytics in smart meters bring sub-hourly measurement precision to energy management with consumption recorded in intervals as short as 15 minutes. With this measurement precision smart meters are able to determine peak demand and offer insight in reporting irregularities. This insight can be used to suggest actions to help distribute load in an electricity grid. Consumers can also be helped by smart meters' analytics in drawing insights to help them. An example of this reporting would be to assist preemptive maintenance of air conditioning systems by pointing out an anomaly in a spike of 40% energy consumption for a specific overnight duration.
Precision Metering with Sub-Hourly Intervals and IoT Analytics
Measures power consumption at 15 minute intervals in order to spot losses from, and other inefficiencies related to, power consumption in standing by and ready for use.
Uses predictive machine learning algorithms for demand spikes and proactive grid management.
Enables the cloud to offer data and receive real time insights. The cloud also houses dashboards that provide real time prompts for the required actions.
Cloud offers immediate access for less utility resource losses and damages to a system from leaks.
Met standards for ANSI C12.20 Class 0.5 and Benchmarks for Advanced Multifunction
The ANSI C12.20 class 0.5 certification maintains a measurement error of less than 0.5%. This measure helps ensure billing accuracy and aids in compliance with the law. Beyond the minimum, advanced meters offer a comprehensive range of multiple utility services and remain useful in a range of settings, from residential solar feedback to industrial motor starts.
Capability Benefit
Monitoring for harmonic distortion High levels (>3% THD) of harmonic distortion from industrial equipment can be a sign of electrical grid instability.
Monitoring for voltage imbalance Helps avoid burnout of motors in commercial premises.
Support for multiple utility services Facilitates alternative pricing of services.
Bi-Directional Comms & Smart Grid Support
Connections that are RF, PLC, cellular, and broadband.
Modern smart meters employ a hybrid marketplace and communications architecture. RF mesh networks provide coverage in urban settings, PLC utilizes the existing wiring infrastructure, cellular provides reliable wide-area coverage, and broadband connections, which are expensive in the coverage of the wide-area, provide feedback for multiple services. This diverse marketplace of communications supports the requisite bi-directional data flow for AMI, necessary regulations, and the capability to realize real-time pricing, provide and receive feedback on the post-event offers that mitigate losses, and balance shortfalls by the generation of demand resources and renewable energy resources.
Extensive Power Quality Monitoring
Analysis for Harmonic Distortion, Voltage Deviations, and Flicker and Transient Detection
Our high-performance smart meters offer sub-cycle insight into voltage quality, allowing for the analysis of harmonics and Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). As per the IEEE-519 standard, exceeding a harmonic rate of over 5% causes an 18% increase in motor failures, and a 30% increase in transformer losses. The meters also analyze the unbalance of voltage (>2% phase deviation) that leads to overheating of three-phase motors, reduction in efficiency, and voltage flicker (rapid fluctuations of 0.5–7%) and transients (which are sub-100μs spikes of >200% nominal voltage) with voltage sags and swells, and unbalance transients. Transients, if not corrected, would degrade the contract insulation of PLCs and drives in the transients, and persistent flicker will cause CNC systems to trip. The ability to monitor the continuous shape of voltage and current allows utilities to:
Active harmonic filters may be employed to bring THD below 1%.
Phase imbalances may be corrected by redistributing loads.
Surge protectors may be placed, blocking up to 90% of transient energy
Proactive correction may increase the life of equipment and decrease energy waste by 15% in a year.
Demand Response and Dynamic Rate Enablement
Support for Critical Peak Pricing, Peak Day Rebates, and Smart HVAC Integration
Smart meters are the critical building blocks for demand response programs, including Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) programs that provide higher prices in exchange for demand reduction during grid stress hours, and Peak Day Rebates (PDR) that offer demand reduction financial incentives. Smart HVAC systems can be used to maintain space comfort, as the systems can automatically adjust HVAC equipment using utility’s transactive or real-time pricing signals to control space comfort, shift demand, and engage demand response programs without discomfort. Programs of this nature are continuous and proven to decrease the peak demand of the grid by up to 10-30%. In turn, the shift will stabilize the grid, allowing the participants to receive payment for peak demand reduction and incentive payment.
Robust Security, Privacy, and Consumer Engagement Features
End-to-End Encryption, Role-Based Access, and Audit-Ready Protocols
Smart meters use state-of-the-art encryption to protect data throughout its lifecycle. Role-based access control means that only employees who need to know can access the data. Audit control maintaining an access history and control over changes to the data provides compliance to NERC CIP and allows inspectors the freedom to not affect their investigations.
In-Home Displays, Real-Time Alerts, and Mobile App Integration
In-home displays provide data to the customer in real time. This data includes current use and cost, and historical use and cost. Customers can receive notifications on unusual usage. Mobile applications allow more control over home devices. Engagement tools have been shown to increase conservation behavior by nearly 20%. The engagement tools allow the energy users to convert unused data, and therefore conserve.
FAQs
What features make modern smart meters different from traditional meters?
Two-way communication, real time data, and advanced algorithms allow modern smart meters to utilize the internet and smart devices.
How does IoT-enabled analytics optimize energy usage?
Smart meters predict demand and use algorithms to decrease unnecessary usage and loss. The smart meters also identify ineffective use of energy and predict energy use.
What security measures are taken to keep users’ smart meter data safe?
The smart meter data security mechanisms include end-to-end encryption, role-based access controls, and audit-ready measures to keep data secure and keep the company in the good graces of regulators and customers and safe from hackers in the industry.
What are the parameters for class 0.5 in the ANSI C12.20?
The class 0.5 in the ANSI C12.20 dictates smart meters must be able to meter consumption to within a margin of 0.5%, in order for accurate billing, to satisfy compliance regulations and for intelligent energy management to be effective.
How is the grid kept to a constant state with the use of smart meters?
Smart meters contribute to the balancing of dynamic supply and demand in the grid, the reduction of peak loading, and the overall sustainability of the grid with the use of real-time pricing, demand-response systems, and advanced grid monitoring.